Monthly Archives ¬
Daily Archives ¬
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Nov | Jan » | |||||
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 | |||||
Location 45° 22S, 62° 20W
Tuesday 12.11.2007
The Schooner Maggie B was at 45° 22S, 62° 20W at noon on December 11th. We were making nine knots headed about due north, with one reef in the main, full fore and jib. After a night of a 20 knot NW’erly, we are basking (literally) in a 20 knot sunny Westerly.
We have come 813 NM from Puerto Williams and have 672 NM to go to Buenos Aires. We are angling in to close the Argentinean coast where it runs East and West between Bahia Blanca and Mar del Playa because we are expecting a stiff North to NW’erly on the 13th, so we will have some protection and some “westing” to give up.
Our beloved Jorge, the Furuno autopilot that has guided us most all the way for the last 28,000 NM, has given up the ghost and gone senile, or at least it is now refusing to talk to the rudder motor. Furuno advises it most probably a blown circuit board in their control unit and will have us a new one directly, though obviously not before we make Buenos Aires. So we have to hand steer, not a hardship with five skilled helmsmen (helmspersons) on board. We are doing two hour shifts during the day and one hour at night. Last night Freddie was able to find the “sweet spot” when we were close hauled and the Maggie B sailed herself. I didn’t have to touch the wheel for all of my two hour shift, as she balanced between jib and main. The main was left just a little free and the jib a little tight: if she pointed up, pressure would come off the main, and the jib would press down; if she went off, the force of the main would increase and push the stern back up. With the helm set just right, she would slowly hunt up and down five degrees, always finding her way back.
The weather is startlingly different from just a few days ago. Today was the first time I’ve stood a watch without full foul weather gear in a month. We are searching to find our suntan lotion. Wool hats are exchanged for ball caps. But the Wandering Albatrosses are still with us as are the fun show of Peales Dolphins.
We still anticipate making Buenos Aires sometime on Saturday, 15 December, depending on how we get treated by this next system.
All is well.